Chapter 10:

Qin Chaoyu actually had some understanding of this patient’s condition. When she previously encountered this elderly man, she had taken his pulse and knew his biggest issue was coronary heart disease. Moreover, when she arrived, Old Man Li had already briefed her on some of the patient’s details. However, secondhand information could never be as accurate as firsthand assessment, so taking the pulse was absolutely necessary.

Some traditional Chinese medicine practitioners prefer a quiet environment when taking pulses, but Qin Chaoyu had no such requirement—a habit instilled in her by her master.

Her master once said that while a quiet environment is ideal for pulse-taking to minimize external interference and allow the doctor to better perceive the pulse, what truly matters is the doctor’s skill. Though the environment may have some influence, it is not the decisive factor. Overemphasizing environmental conditions could lead to missing the bigger picture. If a doctor couldn’t discern the pulse in a noisy setting, it simply meant their skills weren’t yet up to par!

Thus, ever since she could independently diagnose pulses, her master deliberately trained her to conduct consultations in bustling marketplaces. Over time, when taking pulses, she became fully immersed, and external disturbances no longer affected her as much.

After finishing the pulse diagnosis, Qin Chaoyu thoughtfully tucked the patient’s hand under the blanket and turned to the group of expectant faces behind her.

“Well?” Gu Zhixue couldn’t help but ask eagerly. This man, known for his calm and patience in the business world, was displaying impatience for the first time. If his competitors saw him like this, they’d be stunned.

Unfortunately, no one here was an outsider, and at the moment, no one cared about that.

“It can be treated—in fact, it can even be cured!” Qin Chaoyu carefully chose her words. “Your father’s primary condition is coronary heart disease, which I don’t need to explain further. Additionally, he has hypertension, and it seems he didn’t take good care of his body when he was younger. But the body remembers everything, and now, in his old age, it’s all catching up with him. These combined factors make treatment more complicated. So, don’t think just because you’re young, you can neglect your health—your body keeps score!”

“R-really?” Gu Zhixue could hardly believe his ears. “My father’s illness… can be cured?”

“Are you kidding?” Gu Zhiqian couldn’t hold back anymore. “You’re just a fraud. Scamming others is one thing, but to dare swindle the Gu family? I’d call that audacity. But where do you get the nerve to claim you can cure coronary heart disease?”

If Dad could tolerate this, his son certainly couldn’t!

Hmph! Gu Zhiqian wasn’t like his father, blinded by desperation for his grandfather’s recovery. He was the only clear-headed one in the family right now!

Ah, thinking about it moved him to tears.

“As far as I know, with current medical standards—whether in Western or traditional Chinese medicine—there’s no cure for coronary heart disease! Where does a little girl like you get the confidence to say you can treat it?”

Prompted by his son, Chen Junya also voiced her doubts: “Yes, young lady, you shouldn’t make promises you can’t keep.”

Though her words weren’t as blunt as Gu Zhiqian’s, the implication was clear—she, too, suspected Qin Chaoyu was a fraud.

With his wife and son casting doubt, Gu Zhixue regained some clarity. Indeed, coronary heart disease was considered incurable. When he first sought a doctor, his only hope was to prolong his father’s life—never daring to dream of a cure.

Qin Chaoyu wasn’t angered by the skepticism, but Li Zhongming couldn’t hold back. What was this? They’d just agreed not to question her based on age, and now they weren’t just questioning—they were outright accusing her! Sure, her claim of a cure might sound exaggerated, but jumping to conclusions before even hearing her treatment plan was downright disgraceful. From his time working with her, he knew she never spoke without certainty.

Moreover, Li Zhongming felt guilty. He was the one who introduced this patient to her, and now she was being labeled a fraud. How could he face her after this?

“Do you think this old man’s eyes are so dim that I’d introduce a fraud to you?” Li Zhongming stood up from his chair. Due to his medical expertise and seniority, the Gu family had shown him great respect, even providing him a seat by the bed.

“N-no, of course not!” Gu Zhixue dared not admit to such a thought. Though Old Man Li was merely a highly skilled TCM practitioner from Tongrentang, his reputation made him someone not to be trifled with lightly. After all, who knew when they might need his help? Li Zhongming was a heavyweight in the TCM world!

Li Zhongming snorted angrily. “By questioning my young friend, you’re essentially calling me a poor judge of character. What’s the difference?”

Gu Zhixue nervously tried to explain, but Gu Zhiqian couldn’t take it anymore. Indignantly, he retorted, “It’s the truth! Show me one documented case where coronary heart disease was cured!”

“Old Man Li, don’t be upset.” Qin Chaoyu calmed the fuming Li Zhongming with a glance, stopping him from storming off with her. She appreciated his defense, but if she were to leave, it wouldn’t be like this.

“Just because others can’t cure it doesn’t mean I can’t! Just because others fail doesn’t mean I will!” Her words were bold, but she had the confidence to back them up—because she could do it.

Gu Zhiqian scoffed. “Anyone can boast!”

He had to hand it to this fraud—even after being exposed, she kept up the act. If she just admitted her mistake and apologized, he might’ve let her off.

Qin Chaoyu replied almost playfully, “Just because no one’s cured coronary heart disease before, you assume I can’t? If everyone thought that way, the world would still be stuck in feudalism—or even the Stone Age.”

Gu Zhixue was torn. Even when facing billion-dollar contracts, he’d never felt so indecisive.

“Let the young lady try!” Gu Guohai made the final decision.

“Dad!”

“Grandpa!”

Gu Zhixue, Chen Junya, and Gu Zhiqian exclaimed in unison.

Gu Guohai waved his hand, signaling an end to the discussion—his mind was made up. Having encountered countless people in business, he prided himself on his judgment. The confidence in the young lady’s eyes when she spoke of a cure was unmistakable. He believed she had a way. At worst, the outcome would be death.

Seeing his father like this, Gu Zhixue was reminded of the decisive man he once was—unyielding once his mind was set.

“Young lady, I leave it to you!” Gu Guohai had taken a liking to Qin Chaoyu, not just because she’d saved him before. “Don’t feel pressured. At worst, it’s death. Sooner or later, we all die. Today, I’m taking a gamble. If I win, I’ve gained extra time!”

Now this was a true titan!

That was Qin Chaoyu’s only thought. Even bedridden and weakened by illness, his commanding presence remained undeniable.

Qin Chaoyu smiled confidently. “Rest assured, sir. Since you trust me, I won’t let you down.”

“Ha! Good!”

Her words were a vow once uttered. Turning to the still-doubting trio, she said, “Since the old gentleman trusts me, I won’t let him down. Now, let me outline the treatment plan—after all, I’ll need your family’s full cooperation.”

Seeing no other option, Gu Zhixue relented. “Go ahead. We’ll support however we can.”

Gu Zhiqian was livid. This fraud wasn’t just escaping punishment—they were actually letting her treat his grandfather?

He crossed his arms and huffed. Fine, let’s see how a fraud plans to pull this off!

Coronary heart disease encompasses a broad range of conditions, including coronary inflammation, embolism, and spasms leading to arterial narrowing or blockage. Clinically, it’s often categorized as stable coronary artery disease or acute coronary syndrome, though the distinctions are minor. While Western medicine currently offers no cure, traditional Chinese medicine does!

Traditional Chinese Medicine emphasizes personalized treatments. After analyzing the elderly gentleman’s symptoms, Qin Chaoyu promptly outlined the following steps.

First, hypertension. While TCM doesn’t use the term, symptoms like headaches, dizziness, edema, palpitations, chest pain, and stroke align with Western medicine’s definition. Gu Guohai’s elevated blood pressure complicated his coronary condition, so Qin Chaoyu prescribed a daily foot-soaking remedy to lower it.

“The water should be warm, not scalding. Massaging during the soak enhances the effects.”

“Is that all?” Gu Zhixue asked uncertainly.

Qin Chaoyu shook her head. “Of course not. This is just to lower his blood pressure, which is necessary before further treatment.”

“Right, right.” Gu Zhixue nodded, clueless but willing to trust her for his father’s sake.

“Blood stasis, obstructed chest yang, and poor heart circulation are classic coronary symptoms. Treatment requires activating blood flow, resolving stasis, and relieving pain. Additionally, due to his youthful neglect, he suffers from insufficient heart qi and depleted yin blood. Thus, we must replenish qi and nourish yin. Here’s another prescription—brew it daily before breakfast during the ten days I’ll be administering acupuncture. After that, I’ll adjust the formula.”

At the mention of acupuncture, Li Zhongming perked up. The prospect of witnessing a potential cure for coronary heart disease fascinated him. Swallowing his pride, he asked, “Young friend, might this old man observe your treatment?”

He knew it was improper—observing another’s methods risked accusations of stealing techniques. But his curiosity overpowered his shame.

Qin Chaoyu, however, had no such reservations. “Of course! Even if you hadn’t asked, I’d have shamelessly asked you to stay.”